Jonathan Shaw

Labour MP Chatham and Aylesford

Date of birth

3 June 1966

Political profile

Jonathan Shaw was first elected to the Commons in 1997, surprisingly winning a new seat which had been expected to be safely Conservative.

He compounded the surprise by increasing his majority in 2001.

A former local councillor, he spent the 1997 parliament nurturing the constituency by focusing squarely on local issues such as the Royal Dockyard.

He also concentrated on issues relating to his former profession as a social worker, especially housing and children leaving care.

A very active Commons performer, he often seems torn between aspects of his personality.

He is an independent thinker with a strong social conscience and has voted against the government on several occasions over matters such as welfare reform and the part-privatisation of NATS.

However, he is also not averse to lining up occasional remarkably loyal questions to ministers.

In 2001, he introduced a private member's bill seeking to restrict teenagers' access to air rifles.

Contact

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Constituency office 01634 811573